Title
A Hybrid Two-Axis Force Sensor for the Mesoscopic Structural Superlubricity Studies.
Abstract
Structural superlubricity (SSL) is a state of nearly zero friction and zero wear between two directly contacted solid surfaces. Recently, SSL was achieved in mesoscale and thus opened the SSL technology which promises great applications in Micro-electromechanical Systems (MEMS), sensors, storage technologies, etc. However, load issues in current mesoscale SSL studies are still not clear. The great challenge is to simultaneously measure both the ultralow shear forces and the much larger normal forces, although the widely used frictional force microscopes (FFM) and micro tribometers can satisfy the shear forces and normal forces requirements, respectively. Here we propose a hybrid two-axis force sensor that can well fill the blank between the capabilities of FFM and micro tribometers for the mesoscopic SSL studies. The proposed sensor can afford 1mN normal load with 10 nN lateral resolution. Moreover, the probe of the sensor is designed at the edge of the structure for the convenience of real-time optical observation. Calibrations and preliminary experiments are conducted to validate the performance of the design.
Year
DOI
Venue
2019
10.3390/s19153431
SENSORS
Keywords
Field
DocType
multi-axis force sensor,hybrid design,high resolution and long range,real-time observation,mesoscopic structural superlubricity
Superlubricity,Microelectromechanical systems,Mesoscopic physics,Mechanical engineering,Electronic engineering,Microscope,Blank,Shear force,Engineering,Normal force,Calibration
Journal
Volume
Issue
ISSN
19
15
1424-8220
Citations 
PageRank 
References 
0
0.34
0
Authors
5
Name
Order
Citations
PageRank
Taotao Sun100.34
Zhanghui Wu200.34
Zhihong Li36227.17
Quanshui Zheng401.01
Li Lin500.34